A Song By Song Look at High Fidelity

[The Batlord]

A Song By Song Look at High Fidelity

Well, I'm rereading High Fidelity and the sheer amount of music that I'm completely unfamiliar with is making me feel like a retard, so I'm gonna make this journal to listen to every song and album mentioned in the book. This way if anyone talking about the book mentions something from it I can hold my nose in the air, wave my hand in dismissal, and declare, "Meh." This will make me look like a true audiophile even though my knowledge will likely begin and end with the song/band/album in question. Sweet.

I'm gonna do this according to what song, group of songs, album(s), happen to be relevant to a particular part of the book and give a little overview of how the music relates to the story. Needless to say, this will contain spoilers for the book, so if you haven't read it then fuck off out of it and go read it. I'd go into further detail about the format of this journal, but as always I am lazy and contemptuous of you all.

[Powerstars]

Very interesting idea. I'll be sure to read it.

[Burning Down]

I haven't read the book, but I've seen the movie, countless times. The book is on my Amazon wishlist though.

[Paedantic Basterd]

I loved this book. Do it justice.

[WWWP]

I really like this idea, I wish I'd thought of it. Subscribing for sure.

[The Batlord]

Pg. 24

We now begin our journey at the beginning (and yes, I am that big of a tool.) The prologue of High Fidelity opens with the main character, Rob, listing his "desert-island, all-time, top five most memorable split ups." This is Rob in a nutshell. A self-absorbed man child who tries to give significance to everything from guitar solos to breakups by ranking them, but only ends up devaluing them by reducing them to a number, because that's the only way he can really emotionally deal with the world.

To further illustrate his hilariously narcissistic world view he is telling this to his newest ex-girlfriend, Laura, while telling her that she didn't make the list. So yeah, douche. Thankfully though, he seems to only be addressing Laura in his own head. So, only partial douche.

In the middle of number four, one Charlie Nicholson (1977-1979), who we will discuss later, Rob rattles off yet another list (though not numbered this time), this time of his favorite breakup songs. Dude can't even talk about one breakup without reducing it to a pop culture reference. To be honest he's sort of my hero.

The Music

Well, never having been in a relationship and ergo never having broken up, I'm not quite sure that these songs will have quite the same effect that they do one Rob, who seems to be one morose, lovelorn motherfucker. Well, whatever the case may be...

Neil Young "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"

Spoiler for Neil Young "Only Love Can Break Your Heart":

Dude, I've never listened to Neil Young. I'm sure some of you may be flinging poop at your computer screens, but I haven't.

I'm thinking that this song might not be the best place to start though. Sappy folk music isn't really my thing, and this isn't really changing my entire world view. I'm gonna have to go through his electric releases before I go back to this.

The Smiths "Last Night I Dreamed that Somebody Love Me"

Spoiler for The Smiths "Last Night I Dreamed that Somebody Love Me":

I remember listening to the Smiths at some point a couple years ago or something and digging them.

This song didn't really connect with me at first and the intro is definitely too long, but it's slowly growing on me to an extent. That riff and the keyboards just combine to make such an overwhelmingly depressive atmosphere that I'm starting to feel a little bummed even though I was in no way bummed a second ago. Definitely not bad.

Aretha Franklin "Call Me"

Spoiler for Aretha Franklin "Call Me":

All this low key, sad music is weird to listen to back-to-back for me, but it's slowly bringing me down to it's level, and I'm assuming that Aretha Franklin will deliver a great vocal performance if nothing else. Another artist that I've never really much listened to besides a song or two.

Damn. There's just something so raw and primal about her voice. Even when she's not going full tilt she sounds like she's dredging her soul. I don't know that I would listen to this on my own, but it's got me a little curious about her.

Nazareth "Love Hurts"

Spoiler for Nazareth "Love Hurts":

Even I've heard of this song even if I've never listened to the whole thing. Hell, I'm not sure if I've ever even listened to any other Nazareth song either.

Alright, this song is mildly not terrible (and I'm being generous), but the fact that I have five more of these sappy sapathons to go is beginning to annoy me. Jesus, Rob. Go out and get a cat or something.

Prefab Sprout "When Love Breaks Down"

Spoiler for Prefab Sprout "When Love Breaks Down":

Don't know who the hell these dudes are, but they're already annoying me. I've never felt more like a meathead metalhead more than today. Cannibal Corpse has plenty of songs about women, why can't - oh wait! That's kind of a fun riff. We might have something here...

Nah. It's better than Nazareth, but I just can't be arsed to care. Not even enough to figure out what kind of music this is. Some kind of eighties pop.

Al Green "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"

Spoiler for Al Green "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart":

Alright, Al Green. Never listened to him, but it's at least someone with a reputation for not sucking.

Damn it. Not really my thing. Just one more thing Barrack Obama and I don't have in common.

John Prine "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness"

Spoiler for John Prine "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness":

Sounds like country. Sappy country. My fucking favorite. And seriously, "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness"? That's officially in my All-Time, Top Five Worst Song Titles Ever.

Hall and Oates "She's Gone"

Spoiler for Hall and Oates "She's Gone":

Le sigh. I'm not looking forward to this.

Well, the keyboards are somehow keeping this from being painful, but other than that I'm not really getting much from this. Only one more and I can go listen to the most abrasive music I can find.

Dusty Springfield "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"

Spoiler for Dusty Springfield "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself":

The only thing that is making this not god awful is the fact that in another...one minute and thirty seconds I shall be free of this torture once and for all. Rob must be one sick motherfucker to be able to stand all of this, let alone choose to listen to it. Here I come, Slayer! You've never looked more beautiful than you do today!

[Surell]

"Only Love..." was written about Joni Mitchell's relationship with David Crosby I think if it makes you feel any better.

[The Batlord]

Pg. 37

After his current break-up Rob now has to go to work. It's understandable that he's now a bit bummed, though he's still sort of numb at the moment, but the dude owns a dingy, hole-in-the-wall record store that makes no money. What more could you want?

All is not entirely peaches and cream though. His break-up with the aforementioned Charlie Nicholson (1977-1979) left him in sort of a bad way: he hung out outside her dorm until her friends kicked his ass, wrote letter after worrying letter to her, plotted her new boyfriend's death in graphic detail, listened to terrible break-up song after terrible break-up song, and when he finally came to his sense two months later he'd flunked out of college, went to work in a record store, bought his own after several years, and now wallows full-time in self-pity. And now he's been dumped again. But at least he gets to sell Stiff Little Fingers and Bob Dylan records to music snobs who live in their mothers' basements.

The Music

Fuck me. First a slew of God awful break-up songs, and now Bob Dylan's revered double album, Blonde On Blonde. Not that I have anything against ol' Bob, but it's just sort of a daunting task for someone who isn't really a lyrics man and isn't really that familiar with Bob Dylan. Aw well, here we go...

Bob Dylan Blonde On Blonde

I love how first song, "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35", sounds so spontaneous. Bob Dylan laughs at the beginning of the song and it doesn't sound at all scripted. Different band members can be heard hooting and hollering in the background and it also sounds genuine. Along with the energy of the music it all gives the feeling that the entire band is playing at a hoedown just for the fun of playing.

I keep hearing the riff on "Pledging My Time" all the time these days. First on "Bad to the Bone" by George Thorogood of course, and then on a song by John Lee Hooker. It's no wonder, since it's a kick ass fucking riff. The wailing harmonica in the background is just gravy. Shit, that harmonica is gravy all over the album. If (when) I ever go to prison I'm totally gonna learn to play the harmonica.

Bob Dylan's voice definitely takes some getting used to, but even now I can hear his charisma. I could totally come to love this dude. I'm also really digging the drummer. Even at mid-tempo he keeps a constant level of energy that is definitely some thumbs-up-level rock'n'roll goodness.

Alright, "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" is definitely too much to take in one sitting. Unless it takes a nosedive in quality from the rest of the album though, I'm sure I'll come to appreciate it in time.

Well that wasn't nearly so hard as I feared. I'm sure I didn't do it any particular justice, but I'm at least satisfied for a review of a first listen. I guess it gets easier when you're working with such a quality album. Whenever I'm in a country mood, I'm definitely gonna have to throw on some Dylan now.

Spoiler for Bob Dylan Blonde On Blonde:

Unfortunately Youtube are a bunch of festizios and every other Bob Dylan video has been taken down so I can't post "Visions of Johanna", but I'm assuming a fair number of you already know how awesome it is anyway.

[Powerstars]

Yeah, now it's starting to get good. Go Batlord!

[The Batlord]

Pg. 38 & 39

Fuck you, Nick Hornby! Licorice Comfits aren't even a real band! You just made them up to screw with me! Fucking limeys!

But this is also Dick, Rob's employee and the one who made the reference to Licorice motherfucking Comfits, in a nutshell. He's that guy who in the pre-Napster age still somehow knew everything there was to know about music, whether it be the Japanese import only Licorice Comfits debut of the new Lemonheads album. But Goofle wouldn't know anything about that.

And of course just like any self-respecting record addict the time and energy which Dick puts into listening to music, which even Rob can't be arsed to summon up these days, leaves little time for anything so trivial as having a life or making meaningful connections with other human beings. Not that I would know anything about that. As such it is pretty much unthinkable for Rob to discuss any of his problems with Dick. Not that Dick is a dick. He's just Dick.

So with nary an emotion shared they're off to work and I'm off to review whichever Lemonheads album was new in 1993.

The Music

Well, according to my research (Magic School Bus reference FTW!!!) the new Lemonheads album in 1993 was Come On Feel the Lemonheads. Never listened to them, but I heard them compared to the Replacements at some point, so I have high hopes.

The Lemonheads Come On Feel the Lemonheads

Oh yeah. They definitely sound like the Replacements and they're not even trying to hide it. Oh well, the Replacements rule, so I'm not gonna complain so long as this is quality.

They're not bad on first listen. They kind of sound like REM making a Replacements ablum, or the Replacements doing an REM album, but unfortunately without being as good as either of those bands, so they just end up sounding a bit dull.

I'm relistening to the first half and it's growing on me a bit. It's not brilliant, but it's rather warm and comforting to listen to. I might check out some of their earlier material since I imagine that most bands on their sixth album aren't gonna be at the top of their game.

Now I'm downright enjoying this. The more I listen to them, the more fun they get. They don't have that heartfelt, emotional quality that the Replacements have, but they at least have some pretty damn good songs. Whether or not they're particularly original is up for debate (or not) but I will definitely check them out at some point.

Spoiler for Ghost.: